Stephen vs. Henry Budd

Welcome to the Saintly Sixteen! From 32 saints we have narrowed the field to 16. For this round, rather than the basic biographical information we enter the realm of Quirks and Quotes. Our Celebrity Bloggers will provide unusual information or legends surrounding their saints along with quotes either by or about their saints.

Don’t forget, you can always go to the Bracket Tab to easily find previous battles if you need to refresh your basic knowledge on these saints. This is yet another free courtesy extended to you, the Lent Madness Global Public.

Today we kick things off with Stephen, the Church’s protomartyr vs. the Canadian Henry Budd. At stake? The Elate Eight.

Yesterday in another close contest, Fanny Crosby defeated G.F. Handel 53% to 47% to claim the last remaining spot in the Saintly Sixteen. Speaking of which, the Saintly Sixteen begins RIGHT NOW! Time to vote…

Stephen

On the day following Christmas, Christians move from hearing the stories of the Christ child to hearing the account of the death of Saint Stephen. The connection between Christmas and the first martyr of the church does not seem to be an accident. The Golden Legend proclaims that “Yesterday Christ was born in earth, that this day Stephen should be born in heaven.”

The date (December 26 in the West, December 27 in the East) of Stephen’s commemoration was observed very early, and could have been the actual day of his death, the day his remains were discovered and transferred, or simply an observation that nothing says “Christmas” like a good public stoning – in fact, in Germany the day is sometimes called “second Christmas.”

Regardless of the reason for the date, the remembrance of Deacon Stephen as a servant of the poor caused a particular 10th century Bohemian royal to head out into the deep, crisp, and even snow to provide for a local peasant – a journey memorialized by John Mason Neale’s carol, “Good King Wenceslaus.” The last line of that carol is a witness to the work of Stephen as one of the first Deacons: “Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.”

What we know of Stephen’s life comes to us in the brief account of Acts 6 and 7. But the legend of Stephen continues the story – in death, Stephen’s work was not done. According to the Golden Legend, Stephen sent none other than Gamaliel to arouse a priest in Jerusalem to come and uncover his remains.

Augustine of Hippo devotes an entire chapter of his Confessions to the miracles attributed to Stephen when his relics were in North Africa. These included the healing of wounds, blind gaining sight, and numerous accounts of raising the dead.

The remains of Stephen eventually wound up at the Basilica of Saint Lawrence outside the Walls – the resting place of Saint Lawrence, one of the first seven deacons of the church in Rome. Apparently, Lawrence was excited to welcome the first martyr of the church and the patron saint of deacons. When Stephen’s remains were brought there, the remains of Lawrence “as if enjoying his coming and smiling” moved over on their own accord to make room for Stephen.

In the book of Acts, Stephen preaches the longest of the sermons recorded in that book – a sermon which ends with the accusation of his hearers: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit.” Stephen’s honesty is commendable, as is the realization that it directly leads to his martyrdom.

Preaching on St. Stephen’s Day, Kaj Munk draws out the Christmas connection of Stephen’s martyrdom: “True Christmas joy, no matter how much or how little of it you comprehend, means that you go where He wants you to go.”

The Rev. Henry Budd was the first First Nation person in North America to be ordained in the Anglican Church, and he spent most of his ministry in the Canadian west in an area commonly known as The Pas. Some of Henry Budd’s journals have been preserved, giving us a vision of the challenging ministry in the 19th century in the wilderness.

Budd’s ministry for Christ thrived because he lived with and loved the people he served. He writes of a typical day in August: “The whole week have been devoted to the hay, and our hay is nearly all done. More canoes have arrived. In the evening assembled the people in the Schoolroom for prayer and praise.” He worked with those he served and love, and prayed with them.

Life in ministry is not without challenges. Budd shares his frustration on the Sunday after Christmas: “The Lord’s-day [and] We went over to the Fort at the usual time, in hopes that we would have as good a congregation as we had yesterday, but I found but few that were in a fit state for the worship of God. The greater part of them had been drinking the whole of last night, and of course were unfit this morning for the service of God. They have lost a sermon this day on account of the rum, and who can say whether they will have the opportunity of hearing another? There were, however, some of them who attended, and were present at the morning service.”

The day-to-day tasks of Budd’s ministry are entwined together with longer entries reflecting his deep faith in Christ. “I always think that it is time that I should do something, while in perfect health and strength, to make manifest my gratitude and love to that God, who, I can truly say, has been so good to me all my life…. But by the grace of God alone, we have succeeded in our object in a great measure.

The Rev. Henry Budd died after over 35 years of dedicated ministry. A member of the Cree tribe, reflecting on Budd’s death, shared, “sorry does not express what we felt. My own father died some years ago, but when Mr. Budd died, I felt for the first time what it meant to be an orphan.”

Hard choice, but the parishioner’s comment about knowing what it felt like to be an orphan when he lost his pastor got me. He seems to have bee a man who understood the failings of others and, rather than berating them for stiff-necked stubbornness, more gently guided them like a parent.

I appreciate the way you’ve articulated this, Carolyn. I also liked reading that “He worked with those he served and love, and prayed with them.” I imagine that this is a large part of the reason his ministry was so successful.

Michelle, you caught my feelings exactly. I was ready to vote for Stephen (after all, my grandfather and son were named after him) but the parishoner’s comment that Budd’s death left him feeling an orphan more than did the death of his parents really hit home. Would that we all had priests who left this kind of mark on their parishoners.

Yes … long and patient ministry bears rich fruit. Much as I admire Stephen for his devotion and courage — and as inspirational as his martyrdom clearly was — I wonder if he might have served God and preached the Good News more effectively if he had been less quick to denounce his listeners. Perhaps he might have had a long and faithful diaconal ministry of service to the poor and outcast.

I thought I would stick with Stephen, too, but the love, gentleness, and perseverance of Henry won me over. Priests and lay people can be servant leaders, too, and Henry was clearly a wonderful one. So, this deacon voted for the priest with a heart for service.

I entered the polling booth all set to vote for Stephen. My mother was born on his feast day, and my daughter bears the feminine version of his name. but in this time when the sacred land of indigenous peoples is under threat, this time my vote goes to Henry Budd. Stephen won’t mind. He has that angelic face.

Hi Sandy. So glad you like it. Yes, I wrote it this morning. Somehow lyrics sort of appear – except when I want to write real hymns worthy of worship. But these are fun for me. They slow me down, help me to think and pray, and give me joy that they give others joy. Thanks for your kind words.

I often find myself humming the hymn tunes through the day as I remember the words I know through the new verse you write so brilliantly each morning. Thank you for this service of talent and love this Lent, Diana.

Diana, you certainly have a prodigious gift! I love reading your lyrics while humming the tune in my head!
Still, you haven’t made my choice any easier. The first Christian martyr vs. the first First Nation priest. Wow! My youngest stepson was Stephen (died at 49) and his daughter is Stephanie so despite deep admiration for Henry’s witness among his people, my vote goes to Stephen!

I look forward to your lyrics each day!
Now, I wish that I could make up my mind as well, this is a tough one! I am a deacon, I work with First nations and Inuit, our centres for Indigenous ministry are named after Henry but Stephen has always had a special place in my heart. I think I will think on this a while longer.

Voted for Henry Budd: a pastor that works alongside his parishioners – fully participating in the Monday-Friday life of Jesus’s followers – seems a recognition of bi-vocational ministry. Also, the fact that the Sunday after Christmas was a very low attendance day (as it still is) and how much it bothered Budd to witness how his parishioners gave into an excess of sin (alcohol in his case, secularism and materialism in our society) made me feel kin to Budd.

It had to be Stephen for me today – I serve at St. Stephen’s Church in Olean, NY and one of my best friends is a Deacon Stephen (not martyred or stoned, but in Seminary now studying for the priesthood) For those who are having a bit of trouble debating who to choose, here is a little song to sing to the tune of “Good King Wenceslaus” while debating. Not a real great work of hymn writing – but not too bad for a first time:

Great Deacon Stephen once went out to preach a lengthy sermon.
Little did he understand the response to him would worsen.
Yet, brightly shown the Son on him, with God and Holy Spirit,
Though Martyrdom would be his fate, his death by stoning left him great.
(and worthy of the Golden Halo) Go Stephen!

Budd it is! “I always think that it is time that I should do something, while in perfect health and strength, to make manifest my gratitude and love to that God, who, I can truly say, has been so good to me all my life….” It is also fitting to recognize the first First Nation priest.

“Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.” Although they don’t actually come from Stephen, these words seem pretty prescient given that a vote in the House today could end up stripping health care from many who are poor in favor of giving tax cuts and subsidies to the rich.

My vote today goes to Stephen, but I was blessed to learn about Henry Budd for the first time, since I joined Lent Madness a bit late this year. Many years ago I helped out with a vacation Bible school program for the children of Cumberland House, a Cree community in central Saskatchewan. The VBS was based at the local Anglican church, evidence of Fr. Budd’s ministry among his people so many years ago.

Henry Budd is an incredible example of perseverance and dedication, giving away his own clothing as payment for help in building the first schoolroom. As a missionary to his own people, he served as a bridge between white and Indigenous, but also between so-called sacred and secular work.. This journal entry from 1856 gives insight into Budd’s care for all the needs of his community “a Missionary in this country should never think that the time which is not spent in preaching, or teaching, is his
own, for he is to be everything and do everything . . .that whether he is in the Pulpit, or in the fishing tent, or in
the sawing tent, is all Missionary work; for as the one is
the labour for the soul, so is the other for the body.” (September 20, 1856)

OK, that clinches it. Henry Budd it is.
I was leaning toward him anyway (even though I admire Stephen), but your quote, Kara, really shows his understanding of being with and for the people a clergyperson serves.

Today we vote on two sorts of indigeneity. There’s the indigeneity of the body, one’s natal status. And there’s the indigeneity of the heart, where one’s spirit is natively turned. And I went with Stephen, even though I thought I would support one serving Indian tribes of any nationality. I think I was moved by the Munk sermon: You go wherever the spirit sends you. I am content with whomever the group chooses. But oddly, I was thinking about Augustine’s chapter on the miracles performed by Stephen’s remains in northern Africa, and it was that idea of indirect action that decided me. The centurion said to Jesus: I am a man under command, and if you but give the word, it will be performed. For whatever reason, that made sense to me today, so I went with the strange logic of miracles.

My brother’s name is Stephen and a dear friend, and spiritual mentor, currently pursues a call to deacon-ship. Which from the outside resembles in some ways a martyrdom. At any rate, regardless of the merits of the candidates, I vote with my heart on this one. And isn’t that how most votes are cast?

In honor of my brother, Stephen, and my parish, St. Stephen’s of Pittsfield, MA, I had to vote for the young man who had the guts to call out his accusers as “uncircumcised in heart and ears,” knowing that it would seal his doom.

Voted for Henry despite Stephen’s many claims on my devotion, both as a saint whose feast day is an integral part of the Twelve Days of Christmas and as one who serves as the namesake or patron of so many people whose lives have touched and blessed my own. Gotta love the tall tale about the bones of St. Lawrence spontaneously moving to make room for Stephen’s relics. A bit of popular religion with a deep appeal to me. However, Henry’s ministry, eloquently attested in his journals, illustrates the determination of a missionary to share his lot with that of those he seeks to win for Christ, the hallmark of any life of authentic service. Moreover, as members of the First Nations, Henry and his converts also illustrate the struggle to live in a sacred manner on “this fragile earth, our island home.” Their example speaks to our contemporary situation, where the earth is too often degraded in the pursuit of profit at any cost. On this round my reverence for the written word further tips the scale in Henry’s favor: the writing of journals honors the past, strengthens the present, and plants our hope in the future.

Other than his many saintly attributes, anyone who inspires his burial mate to move over gets my vote. Maybe he could become my patron saint of getting my husband and chocolate lab to move their bones over at night!

St. Stephen, for his work distributing charity to underserved poor widows — an example much needed today — and because he chose martyrdom. He’s the patron saint of horses, too. And I went to St. Stephen’s in Schenectady as a girl.

Henry Budd is a powerful example of Servant leadership; however, as a Deacon I have to go with Stephen who was the first to model Servant leadership. I also love that he was martyred for his preaching, not for serving the Greek widows.

Stephen clearly made an impression on others during his brief time as a deacon in the early church. But mostly he is celebrated as the first martyr of the early church. Most likely St. Luke composed his eloquent last words. Henry Budd who bore the cross for many years in the most challenging circumstances and against all odds. My vote is with the first First Nation person ordained in the Anglican Church.

It’s also possible (even likely) that Luke learned of Stephen’s “eloquent last words” from Paul, who was present at the stoning, and almost certainly heard the sermon. Luke and Paul were very close associates.

I accidentally hit the “vote” button twice but the first time, I hit the “See Votes” at the same time, so not sure if one or two registered. If it was two, mea culpa and I apologize to the web master. It’s Stephen for me!! Let’s go St. Stephen!!!

I must echo Gretchen’s words of the need to stand with the indigenous people of the land at this time when once again the white invaders of their land are trying to destroy their sacred land. My vote goes to Henry!

Someone referred to Budd as a bi-vocational minister – an accurate enough description. However, that phrase got me to thinking more. As Christians we are all uni-vocational. Whatever work we may do, our call is to do it for Christ. So I imagine that Henry Budd’s work in the fields bringing in the sheaves, as it were, was as effective in his ministry as his work in cassock and stole. I suspect that he didn’t make a difference in his own mind between one work and another as it was all about the love of God shared with those around him. Hoping I can learn more and more from that example and live it better.

Went with the First Nations guy. But I found a curious coincidence in the fact that Stephen is celebrated on the day after Christmas, and Budd says that on that day, there were “few [of his people] that were in a fit state for … worship” because “the greater part of them had been drinking the whole of last night,” i.e., presumably Christmas. (Or did I read that wrong?) Firewater has been the curse of First Nations ever since the “white man” gave it to them.

And speaking of the Feast of St Stephen being celebrated the day after Christmas, can anyone tell me why history’s most infamous infanticide is “celebrated” the third day after Christmas?

The Feast of Stephen is not</em< after Christmas. Christmas has 12 Days! The slaughter of the innocents by Herod falls during the 12 Days I suspect because it happened within the first two years of the life of Christ. And the angelic warning of the coming massacre is why Joseph, Mary, & Jesus fled to Egypt when they did.

As I understand it, “Christmas” with no further specification usually refers to Christmas *Day*, and the 12 days are referred to as Christmas*tide*. Thanks for the explanation of Holy Innocents. Auden’s play “For the time being” has a marvelous monologue by Herod in which he complains about being forced by historical circumstance into being the bad guy when he really just wants to be a nice guy. (I think he falls somewhat short.)

Stephen’s wonderful prayer for forgiveness for his tormentors, following the example of his Lord, convinces me to cast my vote for him. That is far more important than all the flowery legends which grew up about him, like weeds apparently.

Great comments today! While Henry Budd is very tempting and special…. I attend St. Stephen’s in Cohasset…. so he is our guy! I’m loving the bios every day. Learning so much and being inspired along the way.

Certainly Stephen deserved sainthood, but much of what we know about him is legend. We know more about Budd, however, and his real-life commitment to Christ and dedication to the Cree people in difficult circumstances earns my vote.

Henry’s regard for the people he served really strikes me today. What a distinction between his attitude and approach to the Cree and that of the Franciscan friars led by Serra towards California Indians. I’m a Mission docent and I struggle with the profound disdain expressed by many of the Spanish missionaries towards those they came to “save.”

I supported both of these holy folk in the first round, so this is tough. What clinched it for me was Laurie Brock’s nod to St Stephen in her Quirks & Quotes for Henry Budd. She chose a journal entry on the day after Christmas (when most of the congregation was absent due to hangovers after Christmas festivities) when Budd preached to a tiny group on the Feast Day of St Stephen. Your craft there, Laurie, won me over to vote Henry Budd.

I thought about that, Elaine. But it seems clear to me that the rum-soaked celebrations preceding the Sunday after Christmas were more associated with Christmas than a typical Saturday night. So I inferred that Christmas had been on a Saturday that year, and the Sunday after Christmas was the day after Christmas, thus St Stephen’s Day. A logical leap of faith, as it were 😉

Another really tough match-up. There is so much to be inspired by in Henry’s faithful life and ministry but I ultimately decided to honor the good work of all dedicated deacons by casting a vote for their patron saint.

I’m a longtime admirer of Stephen and I hope he goes far in he competition. His solution for diffusing diaconal conflicts is both genius and the perfect implementation of Jesus’s teachings and where Stephen truly shines is in his sermon. Following Jesus’s death, after a long spell huddled away waiting for the whistle from the Spirit, the disciples emerge and Stephen delivers that remarkable sermon. In essence, Stephen delivers the history of the Jews in a new light: a New Conenant, a New Testament and it’s happened right here, right now in the man Jesus Christ. Imagine that time of spiritual bewilderment as key disciples were discerning who really Jesus actually was and what that meant for the Judaism. Transitioning from Temple-centered sacrificial worship to ……? What was happening? Our boy, Stephen, empowered by the Spirit lays it out for us in his history lesson informed by the birth and death of Jesus the Messiah. What a THING Stephen did that day!
Go Stephen!

Voted again for Stephen, this time for 3 reasons. My son was baptized on his feast day; On the day of a vote most likely FOR the horrible health for too many unaffordable careless act, Congress needs to heed the deeds of King Wenceslaus: “Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.”; and finally the Golden Legend deserves the Golden Halo!

My second son is named for St. Stephen so it was no contest, no matter how worthy Henry Budd may be.
Stephen’s forgiveness as he was being stoned, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing,” and his service are exemplary.

Don’t know. And while I did not read the 1st round bios or comments I’m at least glad that we seem to have the dignity to avoid any “–weiser” or “Billy B–” puns. Or, if they were started at least we nipped that trend in the– oh, oh, never mind.

Maybe Stephen should have delivered a more loving sermon that didn’t objectify the Jewish leaders, and not have gotten him killed . . . And maybe Fr. Budd should gave had rum with the guys and taken the Sunday morning after Christmas off! . . .

Stephen was no harsher to the Jewish leaders than Jesus was. And regarding the situation in which he found himself, Stephen quite likely guessed that he was a dead man anyway. He was playing to a very hostile house.

Pretty sure it’s the “uncircumcised ears” jab that got to them. Only Paul can get away with metaphors like “circumcised hearts.” Stephen enraged them with an image that sounded bad and yet couldn’t be visualized. It was an early town hall.

While the bit about Lawrence’s bones scooting over to make room for Stephen’s made me smile. Add to that that I also voted for both of these in the round of 32. I chose Henry for his service as the first First nations Anglican priest and his love for his ministry and for those to whom he ministered.

Well, this time my choice lost out. Although Stephen had a much more dramatic life and death, I voted for Henry because of his efforts to bring the comfort of Christ to his people, including those suffering from substance abuse. I did so with all due respect for Stephen’s miracles, heroic life and death. I mean, I wouldn’t want to be one to cast stones, where Stephen’s story was concerned. I’m sorry, Lent Madness…I couldn’t resist. I know that’s terrible and I hope absolution will be granted…

This was a really hard choice today. I had to read through all of the comments before making a choice (and by 10:30 am PDT there are a lot of comments). I started out thinking that I would vote for Stephen, but like some many of you, I was swayed by parishioner comments about Henry. My vote goes to Henry Budd, one of those saints I would probably never have known without Lent Madness.

Assuming the story of the so-called protomartyr is a good recollection of an event so far removed from the time it was written down, it would seem that the man’s sermon was, to say the least, ineffective. One wonders who was present to record it, but, ah, details, details…
It did seem to be a duel between a young adult with a death wish and a true minister of Christ. An unfair match-up if ever there was one.

Henry Budd’s disastrous Christmas sermon calls to mind once again the enormous social wastage incurred by our North American choice of recreational drugs. Perhaps with the coming of marijuana as an alterative we can see some improvement.

I dearly love the story of St. Wenceslaus going out on the Feast of Stephen as presented at the Boar’s Head Festival each year in Hartford..BUT.. I must vote for Henry Budd . Withe the way we treated most Native Americans , to find a Cree Indian who goes out to preach Christianiiity, I find him truly brave and worthy of recognition…by tChristians and others.

I don’t think it was the preaching, but rather that Stephen was killed out of jealousy because he said “Look, there is a rift in the sky; I can see the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand!” – that’s when he was thrown out and killed.
I went to St. Stephen’s School in Houston, TX . . . voted for Stephen.

A difficult choice this time. Voted for Stephen. Would have voted for Budd over many of the other remaining members of the Saintly Sixteen. Still looking forward to a Nightingale-Jägerstätter final on Spy Wednesday.

I voted for the Rev. Henry Budd for several reasons, one of which is that his write up on this page did not perpetuate the idea that Christmas has only one day. Christmas is 12 days long, because without the Incarnation the rest of the liturgical year would be pointless, therefore it is the most important
celebration of the year and needs an octave and a half of celebrating.

Also, while not all deacons become priests, all priests (and bishops and archbishops too) are still deacons.

Late in his ministry my father served Dakota churches in the Upper Midwest. My children were small at the time and got used to brown clergy visiting with Dad when he was in town; I think that was an important factor in their later acceptance of all races and ethnicities. My father loved working with the First Nations congregations, but also spoke of the challenges involved. Still, it was for him the high point in over four decades of ministry. By now you have probably figured out my vote was for Henry Budd.

I am voting for Henry so late in the day because I feel it is easier to believe passionately so close to Jesus’s time on earth but harder to work 1800 years later in an obscure settlement with fickle parishioners and love them through the day to day tedium of life. But I fear it is a lost cause!

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